Hi you don't know me but I'm Tema and 6 months ago you wrote on my blog about my son Antoine...he passed away on Jan. 6, 2012...I know this is a long time coming but I just couldn't read those comments until tonight....Thank you so much truly for thinking of us in our time of need.....Your words meant so much to me....I wish you and your family all the best again thank you for thinking of me....

As for living vicariously thru' me, it occurs to me that is exactly what I have been doing for months on Spark People - it must be part of the inspiration and motivation I get out of reading other people's posts and blogs about all the weight they have lost. If they can do it, I can do it! Yeah, I like the new pants I got but it seems odd to wear something that is snug. But I keep reminding myself that continued Sparking will make them loose eventually! So Spark on!

Hi Kitty! Thanks for the friend add. In addition to the Texas team I am a member of the Atkins & Wheat Belly teams. They both give me lots of incentive to stick with the Atkins program.

I try to stay away from sweet stuff but have found that xylitol works well for me as does Stevia in the Raw. But one of the benefits of getting rid of sugar (sucrose/fructose) is that I've rediscovered the natural sweetness that some foods have. Didja know that you can taste a bit of sweetness in lettuce?

Yeah, if you need someone to remind you to LOVE LOVE LOVE yourself, gimme a call! It also helps to laugh at how serious we tend to take our small dramas. Sigh! PS: In my family, the middle of three, I was Smitty II! Take care and stay in touch!